The Glen Waverley Football Netball Club (GWFNC), nicknamed the Hawks, is an Australian rules football and netball club based in the Melbourne suburb of Glen Waverley.[3][4]

Glen Waverley Hawks
Names
Full nameGlen Waverley Football Netball Club
Former name(s)Glen Waverley Hawks Football Club (1973−2020)
Nickname(s)Hawks
Club details
Founded1973; 51 years ago (1973)
PresidentMatt Hollard[1]
Ground(s)No current home ground[2]
Other information
Official websiteglenwaverleyfnc.com.au

Since 2023, Glen Waverley's football operations have been in recess after a post-season incident.[5] The club still fields netball teams in Division 2 and Division 5 of the Eastern Football Netball League (EFNL).[6][7]

History

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Early years

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The club was formed in 1973 as the Glen Waverley Hawks Football Club with junior teams, growing rapidly in its early years to include teams from under-9s to under-16s with a total of 320 players.[8] Justin Pickering, who later played for Richmond in the Australian Football League (AFL), played for Glen Waverley and was an under-10s and under-12s best-and-fairest winner, as well as an under-15s premiership captain.[a][12]

In 2001, Glen Waverley moved from the Waverley Junior Football Association (WJFA) in order to grow as a club, entering its under-16s side in the Eastern Football League (EFL, now EFNL).[8][13] They started wearing a new jumper in 2003 − a blue jumper with gold and white side panels and gold hawk emblem − which remains used as of 2024.[14][15]

Senior team

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Glen Waverley introduced its first-ever senior team in 2005, entering Division 4 of the EFL.[8] The club struggled in its inaugural senior season, finishing the year last on the ladder with only one victory (coming against Chirnside Park in round 2), while the reserves team had two victories but also finished last.[16]

In 2006, Glen Waverley introduced a team in the EFNL colts (under-18s) competition.[17] However, the senior side failed to win a game for the season and coach Bernie Ryan was dismissed by the club following round 7, being replaced by Mark Fitt.[17] The club's 50-game losing streak game came to an end in round 16 of the 2007 season, with a 63-point win over Surrey Park.[18]

The club eventually made its first senior finals series in 2008, making the preliminary final, and again made finals in 2009 and 2010.[19][20][21]

Glen Waverley were minor premiers for the first time in 2011 and qualified for the grand final against Heathmont, guaranteeing the Hawks promotion to Division 3.[13] The two clubs were tied at full time, with Heathmont going onto win in extra time by seven points.[13][22]

In 2012, Glen Waverley came up against North Ringwood in the Division 3 grand final.[23][24] The Hawks lost by 137 points, which remains the largest ever EFL/EFNL grand final margin in any grade or division as of 2024, and the club chose to stay in Division 3 to continue building its playing list.[25][26]

Senior coach Mick Gaul left the club after round 11 of the 2013 season.[27] Gaul, who was replaced by Mark Fitt, would later plead guilty to pointing a loaded gun at a suspect while serving as police officer in July 2010, when he was also Glen Waverley coach.[28][29]

The club officially changed its name to the Glen Waverley Football Netball Club in late 2020.[8]

2022 post-season incident

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In August 2022, following the end of the season in which they finished last, two Glen Waverley players were filmed performing a sex act in front of teammates at a public bar during "Mad Monday" celebrations.[30][31] Other patrons at the bar also said players stole drinks, smashed glasses and were abusive to other customers.[32][33]

One month later, Glen Waverley confirmed the players involved in the incident would not return to the club.[33][34] Senior captain Mitch Potts led a walk-out of the senior players during an emergency meeting with the club and sponsors, accusing the club of not looking after his mental health.[33] Potts left the club and was later suspended by the EFNL for eight weeks.[8][35]

A number of businesses withdrew as sponsors for Glen Waverley following the incident, while the City of Monash also sent a letter that noted it could withdraw the use of a facility because of inappropriate behaviour, referring to the club's home ground of Central Reserve.[35]

On 3 February 2023, Glen Waverley announced it would withdraw all its senior men's football teams for the 2023 season.[36] On its official website, the club said it was "[brought] to its knees" and left "destroyed", and the City of Monash ultimately decided to cancel the club's tenancy agreement.[2][8] Although the club stated its intention to return to football for the 2024 season, it has remained in recess as of September 2024.[37][38]

Only one netball team (known as GWH Yellow) was left at the start of the 2023 season, with a second team (known as GWH Blue) added in late 2023.[39][40][41]

Seasons

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Premiers Grand Finalist Minor premiers Finals appearance Wooden spoon

Men's

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Seniors

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Year Division Finish W L D Coach Captain Gary Hocking Medal
(Best and fairest)
Leading goalkicker Goals Ref
2005 Division 4 10th 1 17 0 Dean Warren[42] [16]
2006 Division 4 10th 0 18 0 Bernie Ryan;
Mark Fitt
[17]
2007 Division 4 10th 1 17 0 Mark Fitt [18]
2008 Division 4 4th 13 5 0 Mark Fitt Matthew Carnelley 74 [19]
2009 Division 4 3rd 11 5 0 Andy Owen Matthew Carnelley[43] 76 [20]
2010 Division 4 4th 11 5 0 Mick Gaul [21]
2011 Division 4 1st 16 2 0 Mick Gaul [13]
2012 Division 3 2nd 15 3 0 Mick Gaul [23]
2013 Division 3 9th 4 14 0 Mick Gaul;
Mark Fitt
[44]
2014 Division 3 12th 0 18 0 Ryan Flack [45]
2015 Division 4 6th 9 8 1 Ryan Flack [46]
2016 Division 4 3rd 12 6 0 Ryan Flack Paul Sinden[47] [48]
2017 Division 4 6th 9 8 1 Ryan Flack [49]
2018 Division 4 1st 16 2 0 Ryan Flack Jesse Dunne[50] [51]
2019 Division 3 7th 3 15 0 Con Borg Mitch Potts[52] Mitch Potts[53] [54]
2020 Division 3 (No season) Dylan Price Mitch Potts[55] (No season) [56]
2021 Division 3 7th 2 7 1 Dylan Price Mitch Potts[57] [58]
2022 Division 3 9th 3 13 0 Brett Gatehouse Mitch Potts [59]
2023 N/A (In recess) [41]
2024 N/A (In recess)

Club song

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The club song is sung to the tune of "The Yankee Doodle Boy", which is also the basis for the Hawthorn Football Club song.[60]

We're a happy team at Hawkland!
We're the Mighty Fighting Hawks.
We love our Club, and we play to win
Riding the bumps with a grin (at Hawkland)
Come what may, you'll find us striving
Team work is the thing that talks,
One for all and all for one
Is the way we play at Hawkland,
We are the Mighty Fighting Hawks!

Notes

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  1. ^ Glen Waverley's official history claims it was Michael Pickering, the brother of Justin Pickering, who played for the club.[8] However, others sources indicate Michael Pickering in fact possibly played for Mount Waverley Juniors, not Glen Waverley.[9] Demonwiki also notes that Michael Pickering "may not have played for Mount Waverley, but only lived there".[10] It is known that Michael Pickering played for the Vermont Football Club shortly before he was recruited by Richmond.[11]

References

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  1. ^ "Contact Us". Glen Waverley Football Netball Club. Archived from the original on 26 September 2024. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Welcome to the Glen Waverley Football & Netball Club!". Glen Waverley Football Netball Club. Archived from the original on 26 September 2024. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  3. ^ "Awards Criteria" (PDF). Glen Waverley Football Netball Club. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 October 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  4. ^ Waterworth, Ben (24 February 2014). "GLEN WAVERLEY HAWKS". Eastern Football Netball League. Archived from the original on 5 April 2021. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  5. ^ "Footy doing it tough in the bush and the 'burbs". The Age. 8 March 2023. Archived from the original on 26 May 2024.
  6. ^ "GWH Blue". GameDay. Glen Waverley Hawks. Archived from the original on 26 September 2024. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  7. ^ "GWH Yellow". GameDay. Glen Waverley Hawks. Archived from the original on 26 September 2024. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g "Club History". Glen Waverley Football Netball Club. Archived from the original on 26 September 2024. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  9. ^ "Michael Pickering". Tigerland Archive. Archived from the original on 12 April 2024. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  10. ^ "Michael Pickering". Demonwiki. Archived from the original on 20 April 2024. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  11. ^ "Welcome back, 'Pickers'". Richmond Football Club. 22 August 2019. Archived from the original on 17 March 2024. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  12. ^ "Justin Pickering". Tigerland Archive. Archived from the original on 28 November 2021. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  13. ^ a b c d "2011 ANNUAL REPORT" (PDF). Eastern Football League. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 March 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  14. ^ "2003 Annual Report" (PDF). Eastern Football League. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 March 2023. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  15. ^ "Senior Clubs". Eastern Football Netball League. Archived from the original on 22 September 2024. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  16. ^ a b "2005 Annual Report" (PDF). Eastern Football League. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 March 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  17. ^ a b c "2006 ANNUAL REPORT" (PDF). Eastern Football League. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 September 2024. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  18. ^ a b "2007 Annual Report" (PDF). Eastern Football League. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 March 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  19. ^ a b "2008 Annual Report" (PDF). Eastern Football League. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 March 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  20. ^ a b "2009 Annual Report" (PDF). Eastern Football League. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 March 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  21. ^ a b "2010 ANNUAL REPORT" (PDF). Eastern Football League. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 March 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  22. ^ Cencic, Daniel (15 May 2020). "EFL Top 10: Best grand finals of the past 20 years". Herald Sun. Knox Leader. Archived from the original on 26 September 2024. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  23. ^ a b "2012 Annual Report" (PDF). Eastern Football League. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 March 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  24. ^ "Sports results for Saturday September 15". Sydney Morning Herald. 15 September 2012. Archived from the original on 26 September 2024. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  25. ^ Jonas, Mark. "Jason Sharp – 150 Games of Pure Class". North Ringwood Football Club. Archived from the original on 26 September 2024. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  26. ^ Ward, Roy (17 September 2012). "Hawks denied glory again". Issuu. Monash Weekly. Archived from the original on 26 September 2024. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  27. ^ Ryan, Conor (17 July 2023). "Glen Waverley EFL coach Mick Gaul departs as season takes its toll". Herald Sun. Waverley Leader. Archived from the original on 26 September 2024. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  28. ^ "Police officer charged after allegedly threatening to kill a man by putting gun in his mouth". The Age. 12 October 2017. Archived from the original on 7 February 2024. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  29. ^ "Retired cop Michael Gaul pleads guilty to pointing loaded gun at suspect in drug bust". Herald Sun. 19 August 2022. Archived from the original on 19 August 2022. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  30. ^ "3rd Division Seniors 2022". GameDay. Eastern Football Netball League. Archived from the original on 26 September 2024. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  31. ^ Otto, Tyson (26 August 2022). "Footballers seen in shocking, public sex act during Mad Monday celebrations". NT News. news.com.au. Archived from the original on 26 September 2024. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  32. ^ Goldberg, Rob (26 August 2022). "Australian Rules Football Players Face Discipline After Video of Sex Act in Bar". Bleacher Report. Archived from the original on 30 September 2022. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  33. ^ a b c Spence, Hamish (17 September 2022). "Glen Waverley Football Club players won't return after public sex act". Fox Sports. NCA Newswire. Archived from the original on 27 October 2022. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  34. ^ "GWFNC Stakeholder Update". Facebook. Glen Waverley Football Netball Club. 16 September 2022. Archived from the original on 26 September 2024. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  35. ^ a b Gullan, Scott (30 November 2022). "How nine seconds of madness almost killed the Glen Waverley Football Club". Herald Sun. Archived from the original on 30 November 2022. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  36. ^ "EFNL 2023: Glen Waverley withdraws from senior men's competition". Herald Sun. Monash Leader. 3 February 2023. Archived from the original on 2 February 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  37. ^ "Senior Football". Glen Waverley Football Netball Club. Archived from the original on 26 September 2024. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  38. ^ May, Brayden (21 February 2023). "WRFL: Glen Orden goes into recess for 2023 season". Herald Sun. Wyndham Leader. Archived from the original on 21 February 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  39. ^ "2023 Bendigo Bank EFNL Division 6". GameDay. EFL Netball. Archived from the original on 26 September 2024. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  40. ^ "Exciting News from Glen Waverley Football Netball Club!". Facebook. Glen Waverley Football Netball Club. 27 October 2023. Archived from the original on 26 September 2024. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  41. ^ a b "2023 ANNUAL REPORT" (PDF). Eastern Football Netball League. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 September 2024. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  42. ^ "Hello to all Hawks followers". Facebook. Glen Waverley Football Netball Club. 6 April 2020. Archived from the original on 26 September 2024. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  43. ^ "Eastern Football Netball League Division 4 (Home & Away)". Local Footy Stats. Archived from the original on 21 September 2024. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  44. ^ "2013 Annual Report" (PDF). Eastern Football League. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 March 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  45. ^ "2014 Annual Report" (PDF). Eastern Football League. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 March 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  46. ^ "2015 Annual Report" (PDF). Eastern Football League. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 March 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  47. ^ "Congratulations to Paul Sinden who this Saturday plays his 100th senior game for the Glen Waverley Hawks". Facebook. Glen Waverley Football Netball Club. 21 June 2019. Archived from the original on 26 September 2024. Retrieved 26 September 2024. Along the journey Paul was awarded the Gary Hocking medal (senior Best & Fairest) in 2016
  48. ^ "2016 Annual Report" (PDF). Eastern Football League. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 March 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  49. ^ "2017 Annual Report" (PDF). Eastern Football League. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 March 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  50. ^ "A message from Senior Captain, Jesse Dunne". Facebook. Glen Waverley Football Netball Club. 23 August 2018. Archived from the original on 26 September 2024. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  51. ^ "2018 Annual Report" (PDF). Eastern Football League. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 September 2024. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  52. ^ "The 2019 Glen Waverley Hawks leadership group". Facebook. Glen Waverley Football Netball Club. 8 March 2019. Archived from the original on 26 September 2024. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  53. ^ "Congratulations to senior club Captain, Mitchell Potts for a tremendous season and winning the club best and fairest". Facebook. Glen Waverley Football Netball Club. 16 September 2019. Archived from the original on 26 September 2024. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  54. ^ "2019 Annual Report" (PDF). Eastern Football Netball League. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 October 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  55. ^ "CAPTAIN'S CAMERA ROLL". Facebook. Glen Waverley Football Netball Club. 30 April 2024. Archived from the original on 26 September 2024. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  56. ^ "2020 Annual Report" (PDF). Eastern Football Netball League. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 March 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  57. ^ "Our Senior Captain, Mitch Potts is back in the squad today for his first game of Season 2021!". Facebook. Glen Waverley Football Netball Club. 24 April 2021. Archived from the original on 26 September 2024. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  58. ^ "2021 Annual Report" (PDF). Eastern Football Netball League. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 October 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  59. ^ "2022 Annual Report" (PDF). Eastern Football Netball League. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 March 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  60. ^ "Our Club Song". Glen Waverley Football Netball Club. Archived from the original on 26 September 2024. Retrieved 26 September 2024.